NRCMA Practice Exam 04
100 multiple-choice practice questions • Correct answers highlighted in green
Instructions: Select the single best answer. Review the green answer strip and rationale beneath each question.
Clinical Procedures
1. A good way to confirm identity is to use:
A. A visitor’s guess
B. Appearance alone
C. Two approved identifiers
D. Room number alone
Correct answer: C. Two approved identifiers
Two identifiers help prevent wrong-patient errors.
2. Before a procedure, the assistant should first:
A. Use another patient’s chart
B. Begin without preparation
C. Verify the patient and explain the procedure
D. Skip identity checks
Correct answer: C. Verify the patient and explain the procedure
Identity checks and explanation support safe care.
3. For a routine blood pressure reading, the patient should ideally be:
A. Seated with legs crossed and arm unsupported
B. Lying with arm hanging down
C. Seated with back supported, feet flat, arm at heart level
D. Standing with arm overhead
Correct answer: C. Seated with back supported, feet flat, arm at heart level
Correct positioning improves measurement accuracy.
4. A patient becomes faint during a blood draw. The assistant should:
A. Ask the patient to stand
B. Leave the patient alone
C. Stop, protect the patient, and summon help as needed
D. Continue filling tubes
Correct answer: C. Stop, protect the patient, and summon help as needed
Patient safety takes priority.
5. A pulse oximeter estimates:
A. Body mass index
B. Urine concentration
C. Peripheral oxygen saturation
D. Blood glucose
Correct answer: C. Peripheral oxygen saturation
Pulse oximetry estimates oxygen saturation.
6. When documenting vital signs, staff should:
A. Round values to normal ranges
B. Wait until the end of the week
C. Record measured values promptly and accurately
D. Copy the previous visit’s values
Correct answer: C. Record measured values promptly and accurately
Accurate, timely documentation supports care.
NRCMA Original Practice Material Page 1
, 7. If a reading seems inconsistent, the assistant should:
A. Ignore it
B. Use another patient’s reading
C. Recheck using correct technique and report concerns
D. Guess a more likely value
Correct answer: C. Recheck using correct technique and report concerns
Unexpected measurements should be verified.
8. Which device measures body temperature?
A. Otoscope
B. Sphygmomanometer
C. Thermometer
D. Stethoscope
Correct answer: C. Thermometer
A thermometer measures temperature.
9. Before using equipment, staff should confirm it is:
A. Owned by another patient
B. Not in need of inspection
C. Clean, functional, and appropriate for the task
D. The newest-looking model only
Correct answer: C. Clean, functional, and appropriate for the task
Equipment checks reduce preventable errors.
10. A patient reports dizziness during a procedure. The assistant should:
A. Continue without checking
B. Ask them to leave alone
C. Pause, protect the patient, assess, and alert clinical staff
D. Tell the patient to ignore it
Correct answer: C. Pause, protect the patient, assess, and alert clinical staff
New symptoms require attention and possible escalation.
Phlebotomy & Specimens
11. If patient identifiers conflict, the collector should:
A. Collect and fix later
B. Use the room number
C. Stop and resolve the discrepancy before collecting
D. Choose the most likely name
Correct answer: C. Stop and resolve the discrepancy before collecting
Identity discrepancies must be resolved first.
12. Before venipuncture, first:
A. Label tubes at shift end
B. Skip hand hygiene
C. Verify the order and identify the patient
D. Choose tubes by preference
Correct answer: C. Verify the order and identify the patient
Order and identity verification prevent collection errors.
13. After applying skin antiseptic, generally:
A. Touch the site again
B. Wipe it with used gauze
C. Allow it to dry according to protocol
D. Blow on it
Correct answer: C. Allow it to dry according to protocol
Drying supports antiseptic effectiveness.
14. A specimen should generally be labeled:
A. At the end of the day
B. Only if the lab asks
C. Immediately after collection, following policy
D. Before the patient arrives and left blank
Correct answer: C. Immediately after collection, following policy
Immediate labeling helps preserve identity.
NRCMA Original Practice Material Page 2
100 multiple-choice practice questions • Correct answers highlighted in green
Instructions: Select the single best answer. Review the green answer strip and rationale beneath each question.
Clinical Procedures
1. A good way to confirm identity is to use:
A. A visitor’s guess
B. Appearance alone
C. Two approved identifiers
D. Room number alone
Correct answer: C. Two approved identifiers
Two identifiers help prevent wrong-patient errors.
2. Before a procedure, the assistant should first:
A. Use another patient’s chart
B. Begin without preparation
C. Verify the patient and explain the procedure
D. Skip identity checks
Correct answer: C. Verify the patient and explain the procedure
Identity checks and explanation support safe care.
3. For a routine blood pressure reading, the patient should ideally be:
A. Seated with legs crossed and arm unsupported
B. Lying with arm hanging down
C. Seated with back supported, feet flat, arm at heart level
D. Standing with arm overhead
Correct answer: C. Seated with back supported, feet flat, arm at heart level
Correct positioning improves measurement accuracy.
4. A patient becomes faint during a blood draw. The assistant should:
A. Ask the patient to stand
B. Leave the patient alone
C. Stop, protect the patient, and summon help as needed
D. Continue filling tubes
Correct answer: C. Stop, protect the patient, and summon help as needed
Patient safety takes priority.
5. A pulse oximeter estimates:
A. Body mass index
B. Urine concentration
C. Peripheral oxygen saturation
D. Blood glucose
Correct answer: C. Peripheral oxygen saturation
Pulse oximetry estimates oxygen saturation.
6. When documenting vital signs, staff should:
A. Round values to normal ranges
B. Wait until the end of the week
C. Record measured values promptly and accurately
D. Copy the previous visit’s values
Correct answer: C. Record measured values promptly and accurately
Accurate, timely documentation supports care.
NRCMA Original Practice Material Page 1
, 7. If a reading seems inconsistent, the assistant should:
A. Ignore it
B. Use another patient’s reading
C. Recheck using correct technique and report concerns
D. Guess a more likely value
Correct answer: C. Recheck using correct technique and report concerns
Unexpected measurements should be verified.
8. Which device measures body temperature?
A. Otoscope
B. Sphygmomanometer
C. Thermometer
D. Stethoscope
Correct answer: C. Thermometer
A thermometer measures temperature.
9. Before using equipment, staff should confirm it is:
A. Owned by another patient
B. Not in need of inspection
C. Clean, functional, and appropriate for the task
D. The newest-looking model only
Correct answer: C. Clean, functional, and appropriate for the task
Equipment checks reduce preventable errors.
10. A patient reports dizziness during a procedure. The assistant should:
A. Continue without checking
B. Ask them to leave alone
C. Pause, protect the patient, assess, and alert clinical staff
D. Tell the patient to ignore it
Correct answer: C. Pause, protect the patient, assess, and alert clinical staff
New symptoms require attention and possible escalation.
Phlebotomy & Specimens
11. If patient identifiers conflict, the collector should:
A. Collect and fix later
B. Use the room number
C. Stop and resolve the discrepancy before collecting
D. Choose the most likely name
Correct answer: C. Stop and resolve the discrepancy before collecting
Identity discrepancies must be resolved first.
12. Before venipuncture, first:
A. Label tubes at shift end
B. Skip hand hygiene
C. Verify the order and identify the patient
D. Choose tubes by preference
Correct answer: C. Verify the order and identify the patient
Order and identity verification prevent collection errors.
13. After applying skin antiseptic, generally:
A. Touch the site again
B. Wipe it with used gauze
C. Allow it to dry according to protocol
D. Blow on it
Correct answer: C. Allow it to dry according to protocol
Drying supports antiseptic effectiveness.
14. A specimen should generally be labeled:
A. At the end of the day
B. Only if the lab asks
C. Immediately after collection, following policy
D. Before the patient arrives and left blank
Correct answer: C. Immediately after collection, following policy
Immediate labeling helps preserve identity.
NRCMA Original Practice Material Page 2
